It is well known that postpartum depression is the most common health complication among women in the first year after childbirth, with around 20% of mothers suffering from this mood disorder. Alarmingly, about half of these cases remain undiagnosed and untreated, leading to serious health consequences for both mothers and their children.

According to the World Health Organization, depression is currently the second most common disease worldwide, and postpartum depression, as a form of it, not only affects the mental health of mothers but also impacts the psychological, cognitive, neurological, and motor development of the child.

"Worldwide, suicide due to postpartum depression is the leading cause of maternal mortality. Unfortunately, we are increasingly hearing of such cases in our city and the Republic, which highlights the urgent need for action in terms of prevention and early detection to identify and address these cases in time and prevent them as much as possible", emphasized Jelena Mihić Salapura, project coordinator.

Aware of the seriousness of this issue, the EKO EHO Association – Center for Education and Promotion of Healthy Living has submitted an urgent initiative to the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Republic of Srpska, requesting the continuation of mandatory postpartum depression screening in health centers across the Republic.

Regular implementation of mandatory systematic screening significantly contributes to early identification and timely assistance, improving the quality of life for families and reducing the burden on the healthcare system. Considering the simplicity of the postpartum depression screening procedure, which was conducted until the end of 2023 using the globally accepted Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale – a highly reliable, fast, and cost-effective method – the Association believes that strict bureaucratic procedures should not stand in the way of implementing screening.

"Through this initiative, we wish to highlight the urgency of continuing the screening process, and we also appeal for the updating of the Action Plan for the Promotion of Mental Health for Citizens for the period 2024-2026 in the Republic of Srpska, as well as the existing Methodological Guidelines for Depression Screening in the Perinatal Period, in accordance with the conclusions and experiences from the previous period of screening implementation", stated the EKO EHO Association.

We urge the authorities to respond promptly and recognize the importance of this issue for the health of mothers, babies, and families.

The campaign "Advocacy for the Introduction of Postpartum Depression Screening in BiH" is being carried out in cooperation with partner associations – the Association for Education and Development "Dignitet" Mostar, the Association of Families with Infertility Issues "Bebe" Trebinje, and the Association of Active Women "Gender" Brčko.